Common Idioms

These common idioms are for speaking rather than writing.

Common Idioms List

Set 1
Common Idioms Definitions

It cost me an arm and a leg to Very expensive

take my trip to Australia.

I was over the moon when he Extremely pleased or happy

asked me to marry him.

You are taking your IELTS test next Doing or starting something
week?? Aren’t you jumping the too early
gun. You’ve only just started
studying.

He comes round to see me once in Happening very rarely

a blue moon.

He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Feeling inferior or having a

grievance about something

I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS Very easy

will be a piece of cake! I’m very
good at English.

The money sent by comic relief to A very small part of

help poverty in Africa is just a drop something much bigger
in the ocean. They need far more
than this.

Getting a low score the first time I Something positive that isn’t
took IELTS was a blessing in recognized until later
disguise. It forced me to study
extremely hard so I got a much
better score the next time.

We have to actually do something It’s better to actually do

about global warming. Actions something rather than just
speak louder than words. talking about it

I bumped into Jenny in town the Meeting someone you would

other day. It's a small world. not have expected to

Set 2
Common Idioms Definitions

Oh well, I got 5.5 in IELTS When an attempt to do

again. Back to the drawing something fails and it's time
board! to start all over again using
different methods

I hate my job so much I can’t bare Having two very bad

going to work, but if I quit I don’t choices.
think I can get another job. I’m
really stuck / caught between a (note: stuck/caught can be
rock and a hard place. omitted)

I have to bite my tongue so I don’t Wanting to say something

say what I really think of him! but stopping yourself.

Come on, cut to the chase. We Leave out all the

haven’t got all day! unnecessary details and just
get to the point

Are you putting all of your savings Putting all of one’s

into that company? Don’t put all resources into one
your eggs in one basket. possibility
Try not to worry about it. Every Believing that every bad
cloud has a silver lining. situation has a positive
side / eventually leads to
something good

It was difficult when I moved to To become comfortable in

another country but I what you are doing
eventually found my feet.

My parents are very fixed in their Not wanting to change from

ways. They won’t start using the the normal ways of doing
internet. things

I think he got up on the wrong To refer to someone who is

side of the bed this morning. He having a bad day
is in a terrible mood.

My mother will always go the extra Doing much more than is

mile to help people. required when doing
something

Set 3
Common Idioms Definitions

I think you’ve hit the nail on the Say exactly the right thing
head. That’s the reason he didn’t
get the job.

Today’s going so badly. If it’s not When everything seems to

one thing, it’s the other. be going wrong

I just said it in the heat of the Saying or doing something

moment. I was angry. I know I suddenly without thinking
shouldn’t have. about it
Keep an eye on him. I think he Watch someone or
may cheat in the exam. something carefully

Have you heard? John down the Died

road has kicked the bucket.

I don’t want to argue with him Avoid a conflict

again. It’s better to let sleeping
dogs lie.

I told him what gift you have bought Tell someone something
him for his birthday. Sorry, I didn’t that you were not supposed
mean to let the cat out of the to
bag.

Don’t tell her what you really think Hurt or upset someone who
of her if she’s helping you with your is helping you
English! Don’t bite the hand that
feeds you.

I’m not sure which party he is going Not making a firm decision
to vote for. He’s sitting on the between different choices
fence.

Everything she does is very over Excessive

the top. She can’t just have a few
drinks – se has to get really drunk.

Set 4
Common Idioms Definitions

Let’s keep studying for Continuously doing

IELTS. Practice makes perfect. something to improve

Don’t get upset about what he said. Joking around

He’s just pulling your leg.
Sorry but I think I’ll take a rain To decline an offer that you
check on that. will take up later

As a rule of thumb, I don’t study at Principal that is strictly

weekends. I spend the time with my adhered / kept to
family.

I can smell a rat. He said he has a To sense that something is

PhD but he can’t even remember not right
which university he studied at.

She’s the spitting image of her To look exactly like

mother. someone else

The ball's in your court now. Telling someone it's now

What are you going to do? their turn to make a
decision

Unfortunately I think he’ll be For a very long time

studying for IELTS until the cows
come home. His English is very
poor.

It was all tongue-in-cheek. He Something said in humour

didn’t really mean what he said. rather than seriously

She’s feeling under the Unwell

weather today so she won’t be
going to work.

Set 5
Common Idioms Definitions

We've had some big disagreements Things from the past

over the years, but it’s all water under that are not important
the bridge now. We get on fine. anymore
You are what you eat so it’s better to If you eat bad food,
have a healthy diet. you’ll be unhealthy, if
you eat good food, you’ll
be healthy

You can’t judge a book by its cover. The belief that outside
I need to get to know him before I appearances do not
decide what he is like. reveal what someone or
something is really like

We're really working against the Not having enough time

clock now. We must hurry. to do something

Why are we bothering? We're flogging Attempting to continue

a dead horse. Our online business is with something that is
making no money, so we should move finished / over
on and do something else.

I bent over backwards to help him. I Doing all you can to help
hope he appreciates it. someone

So you have the IELTS test Good luck

today?? Break a leg.

Ok, I'm playing devil's advocate here, To put forward a side in

but if marijuana is legalized, isn't it an argument that may
more likely young people will smoke it? not be your own in order
to show the counter-
argument / ensure all
sides are discussed

Hold your horses! We haven't won Telling someone who is

anything yet. getting ahead of
themselves to wait / be
patient

Annoying or irritating
She is driving me up the wall. She
somebody
won't stop talking.
1. A Penny for Your
Thoughts – ask someone who is being very quiet about, what is
on their mind.
==> For several minutes they sat silently, then finally she looked
at him and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Walter.”

2. Against the clock – do something as fast as possible and try to

finish it before a certain time.
==>With her term paper due on Monday, she was racing against the cl
ock to finish it

3. Lend an ear – to listen carefully and in a friendly way to someone

==> If you have any problems, go
to Claire. She’ll always lend a sympathetic ear.

4. on cloud nine – very happy; deliriously happy

==>She just bought her first new car and she’s on cloud nine.

5. bushed – tired.
==>I am totally bushed after staying up so late.

6. hard feelings – the emotion of being upset or offended.

==>I am sorry I have to fire you. No hard feelings, okay?

7. hit the hay – go to bed

==> It’s 12 o’clock. I think it’s time to hit the hay.

8. be sick to death of something/doing something – to

be angry and bored because something unpleasant has been happening f
or too long
==>I’m sick to death of doing nothing but work. Let’s go out
tonight and have fun.
9. (come) rain or shine – means something will happen regardless of any
difficulties.
==>I will be on time for the class, rain or shine. Come rain or shine, she is
always smiling.
10. be all ears – eager and ready to listen
==>I’m all ears, waiting to hear your latest excuse for not getting this job d
one!

11. in the nick of time – not too late, but very close
==>I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It’s a good thing
because I really need this medicine!

12. fresh/cleanout of something –

have sold or used up the last of something
==>I have to go buy some more milk. It seems we’re fresh
out now.

13. have/get mixed feelings about something – to be uncertain about

something
==> I have mixed feelings about my trip to England. I love the people,
but the climate upsets me.

14. Give it one’s best shot – do the best that one can
==>This test question is really tough! I’ll give it my best shot, and I’ll get
some marks for doing my best.

15. In deep water – in difficulty; in trouble or a dangerous situation

==>He has not submitted his dissertation so he’s in deep water.

16. next to nothing – to cost very little

==>I went to the new discount store and bought these new shoes
for only five dollars. That’s next to nothing!

17. To be up in arms about something – upset or angry about

something.
==> She has been up in arms about the rent increase.
18. Put yourself in somebody’s shoes – imagine that you are in
somebody’s position in order to understand his/her feelings
==> If you put yourself in my shoes, you would understand why
I made that decision

19. At all costs – do everything you can to achieve/succeed

something
==> My dream is to become a successful businessman and I will
work hard for it at all costs

20. Explore all

avenues – investigate every possible means to find a solution to
a given problem or to achieve the desired outcome.
= We need to explore all avenues before doing something that is
not very safe to a great number of people in order to minimize
unfavourable consequences

21. On the ball – active and aware of things

==>Our staff is really on the ball to get projects done on time.

22. Throw in the towel – Give up on something

==>I’ve spent too much time on this project to throw in the towel now.

23. Down to earth – practical and realistic; Back to reality

==> It’s time we were brought down to earth to figure out a difficult
situation, and offer a good solution.

24. Full of beans – A person who is lively, active and healthy.

==> I really enjoy being with my best friend because he is always full of
beans.

25. Get a head start – Start before all others.

==>This year we’ll get a head start on the competition by running more a
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